Knocked out of the play-off race after suffering a six-wicket defeat against Deccan Chargers on Monday, Pune Warriors India captain Yuvraj Singh said they will now have to play for pride in their remaining two games of the ongoing IPL.
Deccan ended Pune's slim hopes of qualifying for the play-offs by first restricting them to 136 for nine and then overwhelming the target comfortably with four balls to spare.
And expectedly, Yuvraj held his batsmen responsible for not putting up enough runs on the board at the DY Stadium.
"We had to win all three but unfortunately nothing went our way. The batters let the team down again. No point in saying we are a better team than we looked, you have to perform," he said after the match.
"Some youngsters will get a chance and some overseas players. Now we have to play for pride," added Yuvraj.
Deccan skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who played his last IPL game of this season as heads to England for national duty, said it was an all-round display by his team for the second match on the trot after some lacklustre performances in the initial stage of the tournament.
"Another well-played game. We bowled really well. But we have to do a lot of work, be more athletic, fielding will be a key for us. Batting and bowling, skill wise, we are alright," he said. Sangakkara will not play Deccan's last match against Kings XI Punjab on May 21 as he will fly to England on Tuesday morning to join the Sri Lankan team.
"It was a privilege playing with the Deccan Chargers. All the local Indian boys have made a lot of difference for us. England will be a nice change. I love to play Tests and we will need to make a few technical adjustments," Sangakkara said.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who was adjudged man-of-the-match for his impressive spell of two for 26, said Deccan key to success in the last two games was the performance of its foreign recruits.
"I am feeling nice that the team is winning. I am working hard on my bowling. The wicket was helping spin a bit, so I also tried the googly," he said. "Our overseas players were not performing, but they have done well in the last two games."
